THE Royal Bathurst Show will kick off today with new attractions, produce, animals, showbags, free events ... and the occasional enormous pumpkin.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New adrenalin-inducing rides will be on offer for those after a thrill, while sideshow alley promises to be packed with games and showbags to entice the young and young at heart.
The smell of dagwood dogs and fairy floss will float across the showgrounds while the region’s cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and cats compete for top honours.
A highlight of the 2015 show is expected to be comedy duo The Crackup Sisters, who will perform three 30-minute shows each day.
Both the utes and the bull riding, meanwhile, will feature on Sunday.
For a more sedate pace, the pavilions will feature the talents of Bathurst locals.
There showgoers will discover cakes, creative crafts and some of the biggest pumpkins they’ve seen in years.
Pumpkin judge Rob Millington said size matters when you’re judging the biggest pumpkin category in the Royal Bathurst Show.
And he should know – Mr Millington has been judging pumpkins for decades.
“I started when I was 12 years old at the Hawkesbury Show,” he said. “I do it for the enjoyment and it’s good getting to see people’s reactions when they get a win.”
Among the whopping entries for giant pumpkins this year was one that had an impressive circumference of 177 centimetres.
Mr Millington said he encouraged people who put in a novice produce entry to try again next year.
Head pavilion steward Wendy-Lou Tisdell said entries were up in a number of categories this year, including honey, card-making, scrap-booking and digital scrap-booking.
She said the show presented an amazing opportunity for Bathurst’s artists, craft-makers, bakers and home cooks to show off their talents.
While there are art, flower and craft shows throughout the year, Mrs Tisdell said the show is the only opportunity to see it all under the same roof.
“Where else can you see local talents and all of the different crafts that the locals make?” she asked.
The show is open today and tomorrow from 9am to 10pm, and from 9am to 4pm on Sunday.
View the full show guide online at www.westernadvo cate.com.au and search for ‘Royal Bathurst Show guide 2015’.